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Vsevolod BessonovCommander of the nuclear submarine "K-8"
Date of Birth: 07.10.1932
Country:  Russia |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Allsevolod Borisovich Bessonov was born on October 7, 1932, in Ivanovskoye village, Kursk region, Russia, into a peasant family. After graduating from high school, he joined the Soviet Navy in 1951. In 1955, he graduated from the Higher Naval Submarine School and went on to complete the Higher Officer's Special Classes of the Navy in 1965.
Submarine Service
Bessonov served on the Northern Fleet of the Soviet Union and was considered an experienced specialist in diesel submarines. As the commander of the torpedo department on a diesel submarine, he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for testing the first atomic torpedo on Novaya Zemlya in 1955.
In 1968, Bessonov became the executive officer of the nuclear submarine K-8 of the 162nd submarine brigade of the Northern Fleet. After the submarine underwent repairs and modernization in Severodvinsk, he took command of the K-8 in 1970.
The K-8 Disaster
On February 15-16, 1970, Bessonov commanded the K-8 on its maiden independent patrol in the Atlantic Ocean. While surfacing from a depth of 160 meters for radio communication, a fire broke out in the hydroacoustic compartment of the submarine's central post.
The fire spread to other compartments, forcing the submarine to surface. For three days, the crew fought to save the vessel, but the fire was eventually uncontrollable. Bessonov, along with 52 others, died in the disaster, marking the beginning of a series of tragic accidents involving Soviet nuclear submarines.
Heroic Actions and Legacy
Bessonov's quick decision to surface saved over half of the crew. He remained on the submarine until the end, ensuring the safety of others before his own. Despite his death, he continued to embody the spirit of a true commander, even when holding the list of his crew in his frozen hand.
The crew members who survived provided valuable insights into the events that transpired on the K-8, aiding in the investigation of the disaster. The commission concluded that Bessonov acted with competence and determination throughout the ordeal.
Bessonov was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for his bravery and sacrifice. Streets in the town of Gremikha were named after him and the ship's doctor, Arseny Solovei, who also gave his life to save others.
